Hand grenade



June 4, 1940. H|NE5 ET AL 2,203,640

' HAND GRENADE Filed Dec. 2 7, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS ATTORNEY June 4, 1940. J, |||NE5 vEr AL 2,203,640

HAND GRENDE Filed Dec. 27. 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet INVENTORS ATTORNEY June 4 1940 J. HlNl-:s Er Al. 2,203,640

mum GRENADE Filed Dec. 27, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 w f4 50 5/ Z4Z /6 [IV 7 f; I Q' vl", smf/ J m//flmmum if 30 ,f5 f

INVENTORS [.L N N @5523' Q@ mlztwA ATTORNEY Patented June '4, r.

.UNITED s.

HAND GRENADE .lohn ll-linee, Astoria, Long Island, and Louis Segal. New York, N. Y., asslgnore to Charles M. Palmer,'Washington, D. C.

application December 21, 193s, sei-iai No. 311,298

The present invention relates to a grenade of the type having a pull ring pin for normally holding the cocked hammer 'thereofinoperativef Y and the control arm thereof locked against removal from the fuse head of the grenade. In actual use the control arm is first freed of the pull ring pin by detaching the latter from the fusehead however without removal of hand pressure from` the control varm which at this time still holds the hammer in its desired cocked relation. Thereafter and pursuant to command the grenade is thrown, thus removing the hand pressure from the control arm. In ight the cocked hammer retracts. In retracting towards its firing position the cocked hammer rst oplcrates to disconnect the control arm from the fuse head and subsequently fires the primer. Where there is a prolonged time interval between Ythe removal of the pull ring pin and the command to throw the grenade, hand pressure on the part of the operator against the control arm is the only expedient within control of the operator and should' such hand pressure be removed even for a split second, the hammer is inadvertently freed andautomatically retracts,

ultimately bringing about an undesired ring operation obviously dangerous and detrimental to the operator. In instances where a command is' given for removal of the pull ring pin and thereafter no further command is rendered to throw the grenade, the operator is also placed in a dangerous circumstance with an active grenade in hand. instances of this kind often occur and since the operator is under great strain at this time involuntary and inadvertent `retrieval of hand pressure from the control arm has on many occasions terminated tragically to the operator. Thus the invention has for' its principal and important object to provide easily accessible and conveniently operable lock' means for the control arm to prevent the latter from being accidentally operated by the cocked hammer even though hand pressure therefrom is removed. The invention has another object the provision of a relatively durable and rugged safety lock for controlling the operation of the control arm when the latter is freed of the pull ring pin. More specicessible pull ring pin disconnectably or remov-` ably threaded through the cap of the control arm, the fuse head or guard and the projecting means integral with the annular member and extending laterally of and above the latter adja- (ci. 1oz-L29) cent to the cap of the control arm and the fuse head, the latching means pursuant to the removal of the pull ring pin from the cap fuse head and projecting means, adapted to be actuated by thumb pressure of the hand grasping the grenade for rotatably and removably shifting the latching l'arm .thereof over the oontrl arm to hold the` letter latched on the ruse heed independent of Vany manual pressure on the control arm. The invention further 'comprehends as an. object the provision of a rotary lock advantageously actuated when `desired by finger pressure of the grenade; throwing hand of the operator.' Further -functional and structural features, advantages, and objects ofthe invention relate to the provision of stop means to prevent involuntary latching of the control arm when the pull ring is still 'carried by the fuse head, the provision of braking means to hold the control arm locking means selectivelyl in predetermined positions against inadvertent rotary displacement, and the provision of a beaded hammer adapted to be conveniently and safely raised and satisfactorily brought to its' cocked relation under the control arm during assembly. structural and salient features, advantages, and objects of the invention will appear from the teachings of the following detailed description considered in the light of the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the grenade according to the invention, showing the safety lock unlocked from thelcontrol arm.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, however illustrating the pull ring pin means mounted on the fuse head and holding the beaded hammer cocked independent of the control arm.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view of Fig. 2 illustrating the retraction of the cocked hammer towards its firing position after the pull ring pin means has been withdrawn for the automatic removal of the control arm when the grenade has been thrown or is in flight.

Fig. 4 is a front fragmentary elevational view of the grenade.

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of Fig. 4 however showi-ng parts thereof in section.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of Fig. 4 showing parts in section and broken away to illustrate the braking or supplementary lockingmeans, and illustrating the safety lock uhlatched from the control arm.

Fig. 7 is a view of the grenade, showing the pull ring pin means removed and the safety lock latched over the control arm.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view showing the manner of raising the beaded cocked hammer.

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the cocked hammer receiving the pull hook, and

Other functional,

I. burning time fuse I2 suitable for a hand grenade.

Fig. 10 .illustrates the manner in which the hammer is moved from its ring'position to its cocked nosition under the control arm.

Illustrative of the embodiment disclosed, the hand grenade per se is of the conventional;

ing or fragmentatious body Ill containingthe usual explosivecharg`e II communicating with a This fuse is tted within fa xed tube I3 carried by the threaded bushing I4 of the fuse headgenerally designated I5 whichis threadablyand tightly secured in part within and against the contracted frusto-conical upper end I6 of the casing.

The conical or tapered end or neck I6 is provided with a relatively smooth conical outer bearing face or seat I1 for rotatably guiding the finned and-fra'gmentatious annularbut frusta-conical or tapered annular collar or sleeve I8 of the control arm safety locking means generally denoted I9 Vwhich includes the oiiset latching arm 20 adapted to be reciprocably rotated over the control arm broadly. denoted 2l having cap 22 provided with the curved lip 23 removably anchored by the lip 24 of the fuse head I5 and including thea downwardly and y outwardly projecting reinforced or ribbed backing 25 extending within close proximity to but'spaced from the outer interrupted but relatively smooth casing I0.

More speciiically however the control arm safety-locking means 'I9 in fact may be said to characterize the tapered ring or sleeve I8 provided with thc radially and outwardly projecting interrupted ribs or 1ins'26 which have. a double function, to wit, lo ne, they may be conveniently gripped by the operator and, two, they render the sleeve 'more' shatterable.

f It should be noted that the latch arm 20 of the safety locking means is integral with boss or lug 21 (Fig. 6) extending from therotary sleeve I8. The arm 2li is angularly oilset in respect to boss 21 and is spaced from the outer surface of the sleeve, thus ening thegap or pocket 23. This arm 2li a so has a roughened or corrugated surface 29 tofacilitate gripping thereof. The latch for lremovably hooking or latching over the backing 25 of the control arm is preferably cast integral with the tapered or frusto conical sleeve or ring I8 and is in theform of an elbow or conveniently manipulatable crank y arm as shownembodying the outwardly and substantially radially extending lug or boss 21 and the latching arm 20 lwhich appreciably and laterally overhangs lug 21 and in angular rela-v tion therewith and consequently the latching. arm is continuously in a spaced relation from, the 'fragmentatious sleeve I8. y The iiring hammer 30 is pivoted on -the xed fulcrum pin 3l carried by the fuse head. This hammer is normally urged to its ring position against the head of the explosive exciting primer or cartridge 32 by the/helicoidal spring 33 having one end 34 abutting hammer 30 and another end 34' abutting the fuse head. However such normal automatic iiring action is prevented by the pull ring pin means and more particularly by the Shanks of the cotter pin 35 thereof which is removably mounted or-threaded in the spaced per-` forated ears 35 of cap 22 and the perforated and spaced ears '31 of the -fuse head straddled byA ears 36. Hence with the cotter pin 35 holding the control arm 2I in xed position on the fuse head I'5,--the cotter pin acts y as a stop (Fig. 2)\

type and usually comprises the scored and sealed casof the grenade, hammer`30 due to the action oi?,`

spring 33 rst automatically disengages cap 22 from the fuse head I5 and continues to retract to ultimately ilre primer 32.

In instances fwhere the pull ring pin means ls withdrawn and where it is desired to hold the hammer in its non-iiring relation, namely, cocked, without however applying hand pressure to the backing of the control arm, this may be accomplished by rotating the safety locking means I9 from the position shown in Figs. 1 and 6 to theposition shown in Fig. -7, that is, the latching lug or arm 20 may be actuated by the thumb of the hand grasping the grenade to rotate sleeve I8 counterclockwise whereby gap 2B receives back- .ing 25 and lug 20 is to the rear of backing 25 and constitutes stop means for the latter, thus maintaining the control arm` 2I on the fuse head vto hold the hammer against retraction even though hand pressure .be removed from the onset backing 25, Thus the control arm is held positively and safely locked independent of any.

manual pressure.

Where the commandv is given to prepare theA grenade for night, the operatoi at this time,

I8 clockwise. This is accomplished by the thumb rof the hand grasping grenade and the grenade is now ready to be thrown1 in that the control armA is now unlocked or unlatched at which time ofcourse hand pressure is applied to the control arm until the grenade is actually discarded for.

, ight upon command, and during the course of actuating or manipulating the latching crank by the thumb ofone hand of the operator such operation can befacilitated by applying to one of the ribs 26 a proper linger thrust of the same hand of operator grasping the body of the grenade either-for latching the control arm or backing. 1 or for unlatching the latter preparatory to flight.

For effectively holding the rotatable sleeve I3 in predetermined latching and non-latching positions of the control arm. supplementary locking means is provided, which supplementary locking means comprises a spheroid or ball 39 (Fig. `6) adapted to enter either of the locking notches I0 and 4I in the iixed frusta-conical seat I6. This spheroi'd is slidably arranged within the socket l2 'of lug 21 containing the normally expanded spring 43 which continuously urges spherod 33 'actuates the latching arm 20 to rotate sleeve v towards the truncated neck I6. Thus in the nonlocking positionof 'the crank comprising the latching arm 2l and the lug 21 integral therewith, spheroid 33 is urged to interlock with the walli oi' notch 4I. ing means I9 is prevented from accidental rotary ,displacement in the lnon-latching relation of lug Where the latching, arm is deliberately shifted Hence the rotary safetyflockto latch the control arm 2|, spheroid 39 is snapped out of notch 4I and yieldingly ridesalong the conical surface I1 untll'it reaches socket or notch 40 at which time it is urged to interlock with the wall of this socket and it follows that the safety locking means I 9 is positively prevented from accidental displacement in the latching relation of lug 20 thereof with the control arm 2 I. Hence it may be stated that the rotatable locking means I8 is reciprocable and is positively braked or latched automatically and substantially at the end of each stroke since the spring actuated spheroid disengageably and automatically interlocks with either of the notches 40 or 4l when the sleeve I8 is oscillated. Such oscillation however is limited by reason of a stop pin M carried at the upper contracted end of the grenade. This stop pin 44 acts on the end walls 45 or 46 of the elongated guide slot 4l in the rotary sleeve I8 and Vof course projects into this slot. In other words, rotatable reciprocation of the sleeve is limited by pin M which cooperates with the end walls 45 and 46 severally and only at the end of each stroke, and thus spheriod 39 common to the locking notches 40 and 4I is automatically locked to upper contracted end I6 of the grenade.

According to the invention, the tiring hammer' 3l) is provided with hollow bead or socket 50 adapted to removably receive the hooked end 5I of the tool 52. Hence it is an easymatter to Y raise hammer to its cocked position and undemeath the backing 25 of the control arm 2i. It follows that even though the grenade contains the explosivel charge the hammer may be safely lifted and safely positioned under the control arm subsequently to be-retained by the cotter pin.

The showing in Fig. 1 of the hand on the grenade illustrates one way in which the grenade may be held. In actual practise, preparatory to discarding the grenade for flight at a time when the control arm is unlatched, the control arm may be in the palm of the hand holding the grenade which of course can be of any suitable material known in the art for example cast iron or the like and if desired the latching crank comprising arm 20 and lug 21 may be of a suitable steel although the invention is not limited to any particular material. If the latching crank is of a suitable steel, it may be welded onto the sleeve I8 which may be of cast iron or steel or of any known material in the vgrenade art.

In the inoperative relation of the firing hammer 30, the latching arm 20 is normally at one side and free of the backing 25 (Fig. 6) and rotation of the 'truncated sleeve I8 of the safety lock I9 is also prevented by the split shank of the cotter pin 35 removably threaded through the alined perforations or apertures 36' in the spaced ears 36 of the cap 22 of the control arm 2|, the alined openings or apertures 31 in the spaced ears 31 of the fuse head, and through the perforation or aperture 38' in the bracket or lug I8' integral with and extending above the body of the fragmentatious sleeve I8, the arrangement vbeing such that in the assembled relation of the control arm 2| and the rotary locking sleeve, the cotter pin receiving openings 31' of the spaced ears 31 of the fuse head or guard I5 are alined with the openings 36' in the cap and in' aline-'- ment or registration with the opening 38T in the upstanding bracket or projecting means I8 -integral with the vrotary sleeve I8.

While the invention has been described in detail and reference has been made to a speciiic application thereof, it is to be understood that the invention herein disclosed is not limited to such specic applicationand it is intended that all matter contained in the above descriptionor shown in the accompanying drawings shall be intei'preted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

We claim:

1. In a hand grenade, the combination of, a 5

I casing having a neck. a head secured to said neck,

a spring controlled tiring hammer pivoted to said head, a control arm having a cap removably seated on said head and including a depending backing disposed contiguous to said casing and l0 cooperating with said hammer to hold the latter 1n a non-liring position, a locking member rotatably sustained on said neck and comprising projecting means extending laterally of and integral with said member and disposed adjacent said cap and head, saidcap, head, and projecting Ymeans having alined apertures, said locking member having a crank arm comprising an outwardly extending lug and including a nger manipulatable latching arm integral with said lug and laterally overhanging the latter in angular relation thereto, and a pin removably threaded through said apertures to prevent reciprocable rotation of said member and movement of said latching arm over or from said backing.

2. In a hand grenade, the combination of, a casing having a neck, a head secured to said neck, a spring controlled firing hammer pivoted to said head, a control arm having a cap removably seated on said head and including a depending backing disposed contiguous to said casing and cooperating with said hammer to hold the latter in a non-firing position, an annular locking member rotatably sustained on said neck and comprising projecting means extending laterally of and integral with said member and disposed adjacent said cap and head, said cap, head, and projecting means having alined apertures, said locking member having a crank arm comprising an outwardly and substantially radially extending lug and including a ringer manipulatable latching arm integral with said lug and laterally overhanging the latter in angular relation thereto, and a pin removably threaded through said apertures to normally prevent reciprocable rotation of said member and movement of said latching arm over or from said backing, said latching arm pursuant to. removal of said pin from said cap, head and projecting means adapted to be reciprocated over and from said backing for latching or unlatching said control arm respectively.

3. In a hand grenade, the combination of, a casing having a neck, a head secured to said neck, a spring controlled ring hammer pivoted to said head, a control arm having a cap remov- ,ably seated on said head and including 'a depending backing disposed contiguous to said casing and cooperating with said hammer to hold the latter in a non-firing position, an annular locking member rotatably sustained on said neck and comprising projecting means extending laterally of and integral with said member and disposed adjacent said cap and head, said locking member having a crank arm comprising an outwardly extending lug and including a finger manipulatable latching -arm integral with said lug and laterally overhanging the latter in angular relation thereto, said cap, head, and projecting means having alined apertures, said locking member having a plurality of widely spaced and .substantially radially extending ribs, and a pin removably threaded through said apertures to normally prevent reciprocable rotation of said member and movement of said latching arm over or 75 from said backing, said ribs and said latching arm adapted to be manipulated pursuant to removal of said pin from said cap, head and projecting means to rotate said member to shift said latching arm to its latchingl position over said backing or to its unlatched position away from said backing.

4. In a hand grenade, the combination of, a casing having aneck, a head secured to said neck, a spring controlled firing hammer pivoted to said head, a control arm having a cap removably seated on said head and including a depending backing disposed contiguous to said casing and coooperating with said hammer to hold the latter in a non-tiring position, a truncated annular locking member rotatably sustained on said neck and comprising projecting means extending laterally of'and integral with said member and disposed adjacent said cap and head, said cap, head, and projecting means having alined apertures,'said locking member having a crank arm comprising an outwardly extending lug andy l including a nger manipulatable latching arm to hold the latter in a non-liring position, a lockintegral with said lug and laterally and appreciably overhanging the latter in angularrelation thereto, a pin removably threaded through said apertures to prevent reciprocable rotation of said member and movement of said latching arm over or from said backing, said member pursuant to the removal of said pin from said cap, head and projecting means adapted to be rotated upon nger manipulation of Said latching arm to shift the latter to its latching position over said backing or to its unlatching position away from said backing, and means to limit rotational displacement of said member relative to said backing pursuant to removal of said pin from Said cap, head, and projecting means.

5. In a hand grenade, the combination of, a casing having a -frusto-conical neck, a head secured to said neck, a spring controlled ring hammer pivoted to said head, a control arm hav' ing a cap removably seated on said head and including a depending backing disposed contiguous to said easing and cooperating with said hammer ing frusta-conical member rotatably sustained on said neck and comprising projecting means and extending above and integral with said ring and disposed adjacent said cap and head, said cap, head, and projecting means having alined apertures, said locking member having a crank arm comprising an outwardly extending lug and including a finger manipulatable latching arm integral with said lug and laterally overhanging the latter -in angular relationthereto, and a pin removably threaded through said apertures to prevent reciprocable rotation of said member and movement of said latching arm over or from said backing. c

6. In a hand grenade, the combination of, a casing having a neck, a head secured to said neck, a spring controlled ring hammer pivoted to said head, a control arm having a cap removably seated on said head and including a depending backing disposed contiguous to said casing and cooperating "with said hammer to hold thelatter in a non-firing position, a reciprocable locking member movably sustained on said neck and comprising projecting means extending laterally of and integral with said member and disposed adjacent said cap and head, said cap, head, and projecting means having alined apertures, said locking member having a crank arm comprising an outwardly extending lug and including a linger manipulatable latching arm integral with said lug and laterali',Y and appreciably over-hanging the latter in angular relation thereto, a pin removably threaded through said apertures to prevent reciprocable displacement of said member and movement'of said latching arm over or from said backing, said member pursuant to the removal of saidA pin from said cap, head and projecting means adapted to be shifted upon finger manipulation of said latching arm to move the latter to its latching position over said backing or to its unlatching position away from said backing, and means to limit reciprocable displacement of said member relative to said backing pursuant to removal of said pin from said head, cap, and projecting means.

7. I n a hand grenade, the combination of, a casing having a neck, a head secured to said neck, aspring controlled firing hammer pivoted to said head, a control arm having a cap re'- movably seated on said head and including aV depending backing disposed contiguous to said` in angular relation thereto, a pin removablyY threaded throughsaid apertures to prevent reciprocable rotation of said member and movement of` said latching arm over or from said backingsaid latching arm pursuant to the removal of said pin from said cap, head and projecting means adapted to be rotated upon'nger manipulation to its latching position over saidbacking or to its unlatching position away from said backing, means to limit rotational displacement of said member relative to said backing pursuant to removal of said pin from said head, cap and projectingmeans, and spring controlled means operable substantially at the of said rotational displacement for automatically locking said memberagainst Yaccidental displacement thereof relative to said casing.

8. In a hand grenade, the combination of, a casing having a neck having spaced sockets, a head secured to said neck, a spring controlled ring hammer pivoted` to said head, a` control arm having a cap removably s'veatedonv said head and including a depending backing disposed contiguous to said casing,` and cooperating with said hammer to hold the latter in a non-ring position, an annular locking member rotatably sustained on said neck and comprising projecting means extending laterally of and integral with said member and disposed adjacent said cap and moval of said pin `from said cap, head and projecting means adapted to be rotated upon iinger manipulation of said latching arm to shift the latter to itslatching position over said backing or to its unlatching position away from said backing, means to limit rotational displacement of said member relative to said backing pursuant to the removal of said pin from said head, cap and projecting means, and spring controlled spheroid means carried by and movably arranged in said lug for severally interlocking with said sockets to prevent accidental displacement of said member relative to said casing.

9. In a hand grenade, the combination of, a casing having a truncated neck at the upper end of said casing, a head secured to said'neck, a spring controlled firing hammer pivoted to said head, a control arm having a cap removably seated on said head and including a depending backing disposed contiguous to said casing and cooperating with said hammer to hold the latter in a non-firing position, a truncated annular locking member'rotatably sustained on said neck and comprising projecting means extending above andl laterally of and integral with said member and disposed adjacent said cap and head, said cap, head, and projecting means having alined apertures. said locking member having a crank arm l integral therewith and comprising an outwardly extending lug and including a nger manipulatable latching arm integral with said lug and laterally and appreciably overhanging the latter in angular relation thereo, a pull ring pin removably threaded through-said apertures to prevent reciprocable rotation of said member and movement of said latching arm over or from said backing, said member pursuant to the removal of said pin from said cap, head and projecting means adapted to be rotated upon finger manipulation of said `latching arm to shift the latter to its latching position over said backing or to its unlatching position away from said backing, said member comprising an elongated slot, and pinmeans carried by said neck and projecting into said slot to limit rotational displacement of said member relative to said backing pursuant to removal of said pin from said cap, head and projecting means.

10. In a hand grenade, the combination of, a casing having a neck, a head secured to said neck, a spring controlled ring hammer pivoted to said head, a control arm having a cap removably seated on said head and including a depending backing disposed contiguous to said casing and cooperating with said hammer to hold the latter in a non-firing position, a reciprocable locking member movably sustained on said neck and comprising projecting means extending laterally of and integral with said member and disposed adjacent said cap and head, said cap, head, and projecting means having alined apertures, said locking member having a crank arm comprising an outwardly extending lug and including.

a finger manipulatable latching arm integral with said lug and laterally and appreciably overhanging the latter in angular relation thereto and normally disposed at one side of said backing in a non-latching position relative to the latter, a pin removably threaded through said apertures with said latching arm in said normallydisposed position to prevent reciprocable displacement of said member and movement of said latching arm over said backing to latch the latter, Said member pursuant to thel removal of said pin from said cap, head and projecting means adapted to be shifted upon iinger manipulation of said latching arm to move the latter to its latching position over said backing and thereafter to its unlatching position away from and clear of said backing, and means to limit reciprocable displacement of said member relative to said backing pursuant to removal of said pin from said head, cap and projecting means. c

11. In a hand grenade, the combination of, a casing having a neck, a head secured to said neck, a spring controlled firing hammer pivoted to said head, a control arm having a cap removably seated on said head and including a depending backing disposed contiguous to said casing and cooperating with said hammer to hold the latter in a non-firing position, a locking member mov ably sustained on said neck and comprising projecting means extending laterally of and integral with said member and disposed adjacent said cap and head, said cap, head, and projecting means having alined apertures, a pin removably threaded through said apertures to hold said member locked against displacement relative to said control arm, said member having a latching arm normally disposed in non-latching relation relative to said backing and at one side thereof in said locked relation of said Amember relative to said control arm, said member pursuant to the removal of said pin from said cap, head and projecting means adapted to be shifted upon finger manipulation of said latching arm to move the latter to its latching position over said backing and thereafter to its unlatching position away from and clear of said backing, and means to `limit displacement of said member relative to said backing pursuant to removal of said pin from said head, cap and projecting means.

12. In a hand grenade, the combination of, a casing having a neck, a head secured to said neck, a spring controlled ring hammer pivoted to said head, a control arm having a cap removably seated on said head and including a depending backing disposed contiguous -to said casing and cooperating with said hammer to hold the latter in a non-firing position, a locking annular member rotatably sustained on said neck and comprising projecting means extending laterally of and integral with said member and disposed adjacent said cap and head, said cap, head, and projecting means having alined apertures, a pin threaded through said apertures to hold said member locked against displacement relative to said control arm, said member having a latching arm normally disposed in non-latching relation relative to said backing and at one side thereof in said locked relation of said member relative to said control arm, said member pursuant to the removal of said pin from said cap. head and projecting means adapted to be rotated in one direction upon finger manipulation of said latching arm to move the latter to its latching position .over said backing and thereafter adapted to be JOHN HINES. LOUIS SEGAL. 

